Cockney rebel

TRIBUTES last night poured in for darts legend Eric Bristow who has died after suffering a heart attack.

The 60-year-old five-times World Champion was at a promotional event in Liverpool and collapsed later.

His agent said: “It’s devastating news for the whole family. This has come as a massive shock.

“This is a huge loss to the sporting world and the world of darts. He is a legendary character.”

Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn added: “Eric will always be a legend in the world of darts and British sport.

“He was a tremendous player and a huge character and even after his retirement fans would travel for miles to meet him and see him play. Eric was never afraid of controversy, but he spoke as he found and was honest and straightforward which is what people admired about him.

“The PDC, and the sport of darts, will miss him.”

Born in Hackney, East London, Bristow was part of the greatest schism to rock the sport when he led a group of players by breaking away from the British Dart’s Organisation to form the rival World

Darts Council, now the PDC. He worked as TV pundit for Sky and was awarded an MBE for his services to sport in 1989.

Bristow also shared his personality and love of darts with a younger audience when he appeared on ITV’S I’m A Celebrity... in 2012.

In 1989, he married Jane and the couple had two children, Louise in 1991 and James two years later.

Bristow won his World Championships between 1980 and 1986. He held five World Masters titles.

ON TRAGIC LOSS OF DARTS STAR, 60

Eric will always be a legend in the world of darts. We’ll miss him BARRY HEARN